LSU's Tyrann Mathieu Kicked Off Team!

[carolina-chuck]

"ESPN.com"

BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU has dismissed Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu from its football program for violating school and team rules.

"We extended ourselves personally and professionally to him," LSU coach Les Miles said at a news conference Friday. "He has really improved and has a chance to take some steps as a person."

Scott Van Pelt

ESPN college football Insider Joe Schad discusses LSU's dismissal of CB Tyrann Mathieu for violating team rules. Schad says LSU can still contend for the national title.

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Miles would not specify the reason Mathieu, who was suspended for a game last year for failing a drug test, was kicked off the team. "Both," he said when asked if it was a team rule or a school rule. He said it was not a legal issue.

"I complied and agreed that it was right," Miles said. "We'll miss the guy. The football team's got to go on. We'll have to fill the void."

A source told ESPN's Joe Schad on Friday that Mathieu has been looking for a new school to play for this season. Mathieu has two years of eligibility left and could transfer, but he would have to sit out this season if he went to another school in major college football. If he moved down a level, to FCS, he could play right away.

"I can't imagine he would be here and not want to transfer and go play football," Miles said. "We will help him in every way we can."

SN: Matthieu Dismissed

Tyrann Mathieu's dismissal has sent shockwaves through the college football community. Did LSU just cost themselves a shot at a title?

Comment and vote!

LSU was ranked as the No. 1 team in the country when the preseason coaches' poll came out, but are they out of the top five with Tyrann Mathieu's dismissal? Comment and vote!

Last season Mathieu, who is nicknamed "Honey Badger," was a surprise finalist for the Heisman and won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's best defensive player.

The junior defensive helped the Tigers win the Southeastern Conference championship and reach the BCS title game. LSU lost the championship 21-0 to Alabama.

LSU enters this season ranked No. 1 in the USA Today coaches' poll. The AP college football poll will be released Aug. 18. The Tigers opened preseason camp last week as one of the favorites to reach the national championship game again.

"I called on the leadership of this team to understand that these things happen and they certainly understand it and they are ready to take positive steps," Miles said.

Mathieu was the team's big-play machine at cornerback and on special teams. The All-American scored four touchdowns -- two on punt returns and two on fumble returns -- intercepted two passes and caused six fumbles and recovered four.

"At the time, I think it's an opportunity to redirect and I think he still has a bright future," Miles said. "He can still accomplish all the goals he set for himself. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be doable.

"For the team, we lost a quality person. We enjoyed working him. He was a great teammate.

"I think he gave us a lot of examples we can learn from. I think he is a quality, quality guy who had a behavior issue. That's it. Certainly the overview of his time with us is positive."

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LSU isn't quite as deep at cornerback as it was last season, when it had All-American Morris Claiborne and often used Mathieu as a nickleback. Tharold Simon is the other starter opposite Mathieu. Second on the depth chart are redshirt freshman Jalen Collins and freshman Jalen Mills.

"We have good players," Miles said of potential replacements. "It's interesting. Eric Reid, Tharold Simon and a guy who's no longer on this team (Mathieu) all played very significant roles in a Cotton Bowl victory at the end of the season. We have similar type guys. The challenge will be to them."

Because of injuries, Reid, Simon and Mathieu all played a lot of snaps in the 2011 Cotton Bowl as true freshmen. This suggests that true freshmen will have to play a lot.

"I think Odell Beckham is a very talented punt returner and I think we're good at kick returner as well."

[Herbert The Love Bug]

He's the new Janoris Jenkins

[Panthro]

[Luke Cage]

Damn. LSU forgives almost anything....so he must have really fuged the goat. He might have screwed himself out of millions of dollars by lowering his draft position. I hope he didn't fug himself over like that for weed, women, booze, or some other stupid reason. Why the hell can't these guys just focus on keeping their eyes on the incoming $$? Wtf is so hard about that?

[carolina-chuck]

Damn. LSU forgives almost anything....so he must have really fuged the goat. He might have screwed himself out of millions of dollars by lowering his draft position. I hope he didn't fug himself over like that for weed, women, booze, or some other stupid reason. Why the hell can't these guys just focus on keeping their eyes on the incoming $$? Wtf is so hard about that?

If I tell you I'm giving you 20 mil but you have to wait tilll next year, tell me what youd be doing from now till this time next year.

I smell you'll find trouble.

[kdrh5]

Hopefully he and his suspect cover skills have been kicked off our fanbase's collective big board and we never have to hear about him again

[Ivan The Awesome]

The honey badger don't care. he'll find another school to go to.